Baird says Canada will cut off new voluntary payments to UNESCO

Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird responds during question period in the House Commons on on Tuesday, November 1, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has condemned the decision to admit Palestine as a member of UNESCO, saying Canada will cut off all new voluntary contributions to the organization.

“Canada is deeply disappointed by the decision taken by UNESCO.”

However, unlike the United States, which has announced it will cut all funding to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Baird said Canada will continue to make its required payments.

But Baird served notice Canada will not help UNESCO cover the budgetary shortfall it will have following the decision by the U.S. to pull its estimated $80 million a year in aid – more than 20 per cent of UNESCO’s budget.

“People at UNESCO should not look to Canada to fill that budget hole,” said Baird. “They will have to go to the countries who supported this resolution.”

Baird’s comments come only a day after UNESCO voted to admit Palestine as member by a vote of 107 to 14 with 52 abstentions. However, the vote triggered a U.S. law which prohibits the U.S. from funding organizations that recognize Palestine as a state.